Ransomware is malware that comes in a few variations, but they all boil down to one main element: malicious software that scrambles your data so that only a fraudster can decrypt it. Your personal information — your documents, images, browsing history, basically everything on your device — is rendered unreadable by this attack.

If you want your files back, the scammer tells you, you’ll have to pay up. Except the fraudster fails to unlock them, or encrypts your files again, so you can’t read any of it regardless.

Then someone steals your manuscript. They’ll give it back to you, if you pay a huge fee. Does it matter that they can’t read it because it’s jumbled up? Not at all. To add to your problems, the thief further jumbles up your pages, and only they know the order in which they were when stolen.

In this vein, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve encrypted certain files or your entire hard drive. A scammer encrypts it again, meaning your key won’t work until their key is used. It’s your padlocked safe within a scammer’s padlocked safe, if you will.

Naturally, it’s always important you update your system on a regular basis, so patches fix any vulnerabilities found since the last OS upgrade. If you’re running Windows 10 or 7, you’d be immune to WannaCry — as long as the system’s up to date. Similarly, Microsoft issued a Windows patch after the worldwide ransomware attack, so users of older systems will need to automate updates.

The most important thing, however, is a reliable backup of all your files. You have to make sure new files are added to it on a routine basis (pencil it in on your calendar, maybe once a week) and then unplug your backup.

Because ransomware can encrypt your backup too. If you leave it plugged in, the attack can spread and your precaution is an entirely moot point.

Obviously, you should abide by general security practices regardless. Not downloading suspect files will help in the fight against any sort of malware. Equally, checking a site is the real deal is always advisable. There’s one other way to help keep your data safe, aside from if ransomware hits…

What Use Is Encryption?

Yes, we’re back to encryption.

Let’s not get carried away: encryption might not work against ransomware, but it’s still a very solid form of defense against many other attacks — because it stops your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

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June 30, 2017 at 12:00 am

@Philip (or anyone who might know)... Would "hiding" files so they are not visible keep them from being scrambled by ransomware?

I use USBSecurity from Kakasoft. It claims to encrypt my data files but given it takes only two seconds to encrypt or decrypt gigabytes of data files, I believe all it does is simply hide those files from view - not any kind of actual encryption.

BUT, once the files are hidden, they are hidden from Windows Explorer - even if you uncheck "hide system files" and check "view hidden files". Those file names cannot be seen until you enter a password. SO, if I can't see those files at all, perhaps ransomware can't either?

It largely depends on the ransomware that's used, but most are aware of hidden files so yes, you'd still be affected, I'm afraid. Sorry. All this makes ransomware sound really quite terrifying, and it is scary, but I think as long as you take basic precautions, you should be okay.

One solution, if you know what you're doing, is to store your backups on a target that does not allow the source computer to change the files once they're transferred. Copying data to tape works really well for this, since it's not directly attached storage. Another option is to move backed-up files out of a stored location that the source computer can view or write to, via a script or manual interaction with the backup target.

When he’s not watching television, reading books ‘n’ Marvel comics, listening to The Killers, and obsessing over script ideas, Philip Bates pretends to be a freelance writer. He enjoys collecting everything.